Addiction Recovery Programs-- Confession of a Food Addict

This is it.

True confessions.  Tonight I attended my first meeting (again).  It's actually hard for me to come out and publicly admit I'm insane...but I think most of you know I'm a little nuts anyway. Admitting I need help outside myself and that I'm completely unable to deal with something on my own...is well...almost impossible for me to do. Almost. Yet how can I confess to love God and be a Christian without such a confession?  I have this extreme sickness called "perfectionism" where I want to be perfect at everything. I want to give God this "perfect" life. Then He'll love me. Duh. There was only one perfect being...and I'm not Him. I know...I don't have to qualify for His love. I just have to accept it. Admitting weakness doesn't mean I'm imperfect...it means I'm human. Having humility doesn't mean one hates themselves...it means one acknowledges total reliance on God. I realize now that by doing this, I may loose a few friends.  I may gain a few friends.  I may, along the way, lose a few pounds. Honestly, it's not about the "appearance" of sanity and the appearance of peace...it's about the real deal.  
I've joked in the past about being a food addict...and a dealer. You know, being a chef. However...I finally am willing to admit that I need a 12 step program. Six years ago I attended the meetings, did all the steps...and then for some reason I stopped going. I thought I could do it on my own.  Well...enough said.  Back to step one. Admitting I have a problem. Now I'm not sure if I should have another food addicts blog...because seeing all this food here might send someone on a binge-fest. However...I'm also willing to admit that unlike a crack addiction...food is necessary for living. I know I'm not the only one who suffers from emotional eating issues. I'm willing to go forward with healthy sane solutions to this problem...right here.   Right now.  I'm telling you all..."Hello, my name is Stephanie. I'm a food addict."  
The final motivational quote that sent me to this step was this:
“The suffering you endure from resisting or from leaving a life-style of addiction or perversion is not a hundredth part of that suffered by your parents, your spouse or your children, if you give up. Theirs is an innocent suffering because they love you. To keep resisting or to withdraw from such a life-style is an act of genuine unselfishness, a sacrifice you place on the altar of obedience. It will bring enormous spiritual rewards."--Boyde K. Packer

The Church I love has an Addiction Recovery Program (ARP), sponsored by LDS Family Services, to help Church members who desire to recover from addiction as well as to help family members and friends. For more information, visit www.ldsfamilyservices.org or contact the LDS Family Services office nearest you. The manual Addiction Recovery Program: A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing (36764) is available at Church distribution centers or at www.ldscatalog.com.  Thankfully we actually have a local branch here that deals with food issues.  

Here I go.